Apparatus for temporarily storing articles and for a new delivering same

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for the forming of a buffer store of articles, for example stackable or nestable articles such as cups, plate- or disc-shaped objects, or covers, which apparatus comprises: supply means (10, 12) for feeding of the articles; at least one storage tube (8) for receiving a stack of articles; and discharge means (11, 14) for discharging of the articles, of which storage tube the bottom end is open and selectively connectable to the supply means and the discharge means respectively, whereby preferably the storage tube is supported by means of a pivotable suspension such that it can be swung between two positions by means of first drive means controlled by control means, in the first of which, the supply position, the tube connects with its open bottom end to the outlet of the supply means and can be filled thereby with articles, and in the second of which, the discharge position, the tube connects with its open bottom end to the inlet of the discharge means and can deliver articles thereto.

We claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for forming a buffer store of stackable articles comprising: a feeder having an outlet to feed articles;   a discharger having an inlet to receive articles;   a storage tube for storing a stack of articles, the storage tube connected to a table, the table rotatable about a first axis of rotation, the storage tube having a first end, the storage tube movable between a first position, in which the first end of the storage tube is connectable to the outlet of the feeder to fill the storage tube with articles fed from the feeder, and a second position, in which the first end of the storage tube is connectable to the inlet of the discharger to deliver articles from the storage tube to the discharger;   a first device to rotate the table;   a second device to move the storage tube between the first position and the second position; and   a controller to control the movement of the storage tube;   wherein the inlet of the discharger is coaxial to the first axis of rotation and the outlet of the feeder is placed at a distance from the first axis of rotation.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the table is rotatable in a stepwise manner. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first end of the storage tube is open. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a securing collar for maintaining the first end of the storage tube in connection with the inlet of the discharger. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a suspension to connect the storage tube to the table, the suspension positioned at a distance from the first axis of rotation. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plate having a first hole forming the outlet of the feeder, and a second hole forming the inlet to the discharger. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a separating knife movable between a first position, in which the separating knife interrupts the flow of articles between the first end of the storage tube and the outlet of the feeder and a second position, in which the separating knife does not interrupt the flow of articles between the first end of the storage tube and the outlet of the feeder. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second device to move the storage tube comprises a pivot driving for pivoting the first end of the storage tube. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a spring for constraining the storage tube radially outward to a position in which the first end of the storage tube is substantially the same distance to the first axis of rotation as the outlet of the discharger. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising stops to limit the position of the storage tube. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the stops extend alongside the storage tube when the storage tube is positioned in the first position. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the stops are wedges. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the pivot driving comprises a vertically disposed pneumatic cylinder which moves a drive arm via a lever. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the drive arm has a freely turning roller which is adapted to the shape of the storage tube. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a guiding defining a path for a flow of articles, the guiding connected to the inlet of the discharger, the guiding having a movable support for the articles delivered by the storage tube, the movable support allowing a first flow of articles to catch up with a second flow of articles in order to obtain a continuous flow of discharged articles, which support can subsequently be removed from the flow path of the articles defined by the guiding. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first device to rotate the table comprises a pushing member mounted to the table, a first reciprocally drivable element movable between a first position and a second position, the first reciprocally drivable element engaging the pushing member in the first position to prevent rotation of the table, the first reciprocally drivable element not engaging a pushing member in the second position and therefore allowing the table to rotate. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus to maintain a continuous supply of articles to a discharger so as to prevent an interruption in the stream of articles discharged from the discharger, the apparatus comprising: a feeder to feed articles, the feeder having an outlet from which articles are delivered;   a table, the table mounted for rotation about a first axis between a first position and a second position, a first storage tube to store a first supply of articles, the first storage tube connected to the table at a first distance from the first axis, the first storage tube having a first end and a second end, the first storage tube connected to the table so that the first end of the first storage tube may be pivoted into proximity with the outlet of the feeder when the table is rotated into a first position and the feeder may then feed articles into the first storage tube, a second storage tube to store a second supply of articles, the second storage tube connected to the table at a second distance from the first axis, the second distance of the second storage tube being equal to the first distance of the first storage tube, the second storage tube having a first end and a second end, the second storage tube connected to the table so that the first end of the second storage tube may be pivoted into proximity with the outlet of the feeder when the table is rotated into a second position and the feeder may then feed articles into the second storage tube;   a discharger to discharge articles, the discharger having an inlet to receive articles to be discharged, the inlet of the discharger being positioned coaxial to the first axis of rotation, the inlet further being positioned so that the first end of the first storage tube may be pivoted into proximity with the inlet of the discharger and the first supply of articles may be fed to the discharger when the table is rotated into either the first position or the second position and so that the first end of the second storage tube may be pivoted into proximity with the inlet of the discharger and the second supply of articles may be fed to the discharger when the table is rotated into either the first position or the second position; and   a controller to control the positioning of the first end of the first tube and the first end of the second tube and the rotation of the table.   
     
     
       18. The device of claim 17 wherein the controller controls the positioning of the first end of the first storage tube and the first end of the second storage tube so that when the first storage tube is filled with the first store of articles from the feeder and the second storage tube has emptied the second store of articles, the table is rotated and the first end of the first storage tube is pivoted into proximity with the inlet of the discharger and the first end of the second storage tube is pivoted into proximity with the outlet of the feeder. 
     
     
       19. The device of claim 17 further comprising a driver to rotate the table. 
     
     
       20. The device of claim 19 wherein the driver comprises a lever attached to the first axis of rotation, the lever having a first arm and a second arm, the lever connected to an element reciprocally movable between a first position and a second position to move the second arm between a first position and a second position, the second arm having a ratchet to engage the table when the second arm moves from the first position to the second position and thereby cause the table to rotate. 
     
     
       21. A method of maintaining a continuous supply of articles so as to prevent an interruption in the supply of articles to a discharger comprising the steps of: filling a first end of a first storage device with articles from a first end of a feeder;   emptying articles from a first end of a second storage device into a first end of a discharger;   moving the first end of the second storage device from the first end of the discharger;   moving the first end of the first storage device from the first end of the feeder;   rotating the first storage device and the second storage device about a first axis;   moving the first end of the first storage device to the first end of the discharger and emptying articles from the first storage device into the inlet of the discharger; and   moving the first end of the full storage device to the first end of the feeder and filling the second storage device with articles from the outlet of the feeder.   
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21 comprising the additional step of sensing the amount to which the first storage device is filled by the feeder and the amount to which the second storage device is emptied into the discharger. 
     
     
       23. The device of claim 21 wherein the first end of the first storage device moves pivotally. 
     
     
       24. The device of claim 21 wherein the first end of the second storage device moves pivotally. 
     
     
       25. An apparatus for forming a buffer store of stackable articles comprising: a feeder having an outlet to feed articles;   a discharger having an inlet to receive articles;   a storage tube for storing a stack of articles, the storage tube connected to a table, the table rotatable about a first axis of rotation, the storage tube having a first end, the storage tube movable between a first position, in which the first end of the storage tube is connectable to the outlet of the feeder to fill the storage tube with articles fed from the feeder, and a second position, in which the first end of the storage tube is connectable to the inlet of the discharger to deliver articles from the storage tube to the discharger;   a first device to rotate the table;   a second device to move the storage tube between the first position and the second position;   a controller to control the movement of the storage tube; and   a securing collar for maintaining the first end of the storage tube in connection with the inlet of the discharger.   
     
     
       26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the securing collar is movable between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the controller controls the securing collar. 
     
     
       28. An apparatus for forming a buffer store of stackable articles comprising: a feeder having an outlet to feed articles;   a discharger having an inlet to receive articles;   a storage tube for storing a stack of articles, the storage tube connected to a table, the table rotatable about a first axis of rotation, the storage tube having a first end, the storage tube movable between a first position, in which the first end of the storage tube is connectable to the outlet of the feeder to fill the storage tube with articles fed from the feeder, and a second position, in which the first end of the storage tube is connectable to the inlet of the discharger to deliver articles from the storage tube to the discharger;   a first device to rotate the table;   a second device to move the storage tube between the first position and the second position;   a controller to control the movement of the storage tube; and   a suspension to connect the storage tube to the table, the suspension positioned at a distance from the first axis of rotation.   
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the distance of the suspension from the first axis of rotation is substantially the same as the distance the outlet of the feeder is placed from the first axis of rotation. 
     
     
       30. An apparatus for forming a buffer store of stackable articles comprising: a feeder having an outlet to feed articles;   a discharger having an inlet to receive articles;   a storage tube for storing a stack of articles, the storage tube connected to a table, the table rotatable about a first axis of rotation, the storage tube having a first end, the storage tube movable between a first position, in which the first end of the storage tube is connectable to the outlet of the feeder to fill the storage tube with articles fed from the feeder, and a second position, in which the first end of the storage tube is connectable to the inlet of the discharger to deliver articles from the storage tube to the discharger;   a first device to rotate the table;   a second device to move the storage tube between the first position and the second position;   a controller to control the movement of the storage tube; and   a plate having a first hole forming the outlet of the feeder, and a second hole forming the inlet to the discharger.   
     
     
       31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the first end of the storage tube is located at a distance from the plate such than an article in the storage tube will slide along the plate and remain in the storage tube during the movement of the storage tube. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the plate is substantially smooth. 
     
     
       33. An apparatus for forming a buffer store of stackable articles comprising: a feeder having an outlet to feed articles;   a discharger having an inlet to receive articles;   a storage tube for storing a stack of articles, the storage tube connected to a table, the table rotatable about a first axis of rotation, the storage tube having a first end, the storage tube movable between a first position, in which the first end of the storage tube is connectable to the outlet of the feeder to fill the storage tube with articles fed from the feeder, and a second position, in which the first end of the storage tube is connectable to the inlet of the discharger to deliver articles from the storage tube to the discharger;   a first device to rotate the table;   a second device to move the storage tube between the first position and the second position;   a controller to control the movement of the storage tube; and   a separating knife movable between a first position in which the separating knife interrupts the flow of articles between the first end of the storage tube and the outlet of the feeder, and a second position in which the separating knife does not interrupt the flow of articles between the first end of the storage tube and the outlet of the feeder.   
     
     
       34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the movement of the separating knife is controlled by the controller so as to interrupt the flow of articles after the storage tube has been filled to a desired amount. 
     
     
       35. The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising a sensor to sense articles, the sensor placed along the path of the flow of articles, the sensor being connected to the controller. 
     
     
       36. The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising a device to deliver articles, the device being connected to the feeder, the delivery device further being connected to the controller. 
     
     
       37. An apparatus for forming a buffer store of stackable articles comprising: a feeder having an outlet to feed articles;   a discharger having an inlet to receive articles;   a storage tube for storing a stack of articles, the storage tube connected to a table, the table rotatable about a first axis of rotation, the storage tube having a first end, the storage tube movable between a first position, in which the first end of the storage tube is connectable to the outlet of the feeder to fill the storage tube with articles fed from the feeder, and a second position, in which the first end of the storage tube is connectable to the inlet of the discharger to deliver articles from the storage tube to the discharger;   a first device to rotate the table;   a second device to move the storage tube between the first position and the second position;   a controller to control the movement of the storage tube; and   a guiding defining path for a flow of articles, the guiding connected to the inlet of the discharger, the guiding having a movable support for the articles delivered by the storage tube, the movable support allowing a first flow of articles to catch up with a second flow of articles in order to obtain a continuous flow of discharged articles, which support can subsequently be removed from the flow path of the articles defined by the guiding.   
     
     
       38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the guiding is arcuate and the movable support is carried by an arm which is mounted for pivoting concentrically to the guiding tube. 
     
     
       39. An apparatus for forming a buffer store of stackable articles comprising: a feeder having an outlet to feed articles;   a discharger having an inlet to receive articles;   a storage tube for storing a stack of articles; the storage tube connected to a table, the table rotatable about a first axis of rotation, the storage tube having a first end, the storage tube movable between a first position, in which the first end of the storage tube is connectable to the outlet of the feeder to fill the storage tube with articles fed from the feeder, and a second position, in which the first end of the storage tube is connectable to the inlet of the discharger to deliver articles from the storage tube to the discharger;   a first device to rotate the table;   a second device to move the storage tube between the first position and the second position; and   a controller to control the movement of the storage tube;   wherein the first device to rotate the table comprises a pushing member mounted to the table and a first reciprocally drivable element movable between a first position and a second position, the first reciprocally drivable element engaging the pushing member in the first position to prevent rotation of the table, the first reciprocally drivable element not engaging the pushing member in the second position thereby allowing the table to rotate.